Shoalhaven Heads: Beaches, Nature and Time by the Water

Shoalhaven Heads is well suited to travelers looking to combine a coastal stay with nature, memorial sites and a range of leisure activities. The town offers direct access to Seven Mile Beach, along with a national park offering various outdoor activities, a garden featuring native Australian plants, memorials and riverside facilities.

Beach, National Park and Outdoor Activities

Seven Mile Beach National Park stretches from Shoalhaven Heads, east of Nowra, to Gerroa. Activities in the park include fishing, swimming, picnicking and hiking. The range of activities allows for different kinds of day plans: if you want to spend time by the water, you could consider swimming or fishing; hiking and picnicking offer other ways to spend time in the park. This lets you plan your outing around the mix of activities you want, rather than committing to just one pastime.

At Seven Mile Beach near Shoalhaven Heads, there are areas where dogs can be off leash at any time of day. This rule applies to the designated areas, not to the entire beach. If you’re traveling with a dog, check the current local rules before your visit.

Plants, Memorials and Recreation

The Shoalhaven Heads Native Botanic Garden features native Australian plants, including rare, endangered and bush tucker species. The garden offers a different natural focus from the beach and national park, with an emphasis on a variety of plant groups. For travelers who’d like to include a botanical theme in their stay, it’s a separate option alongside activities by the water.

Several memorials in Shoalhaven Heads Memorial Park commemorate conflicts in which Australia was involved. The park adds a place of remembrance to the range of nature and leisure offerings. The garden and Memorial Park cater to different interests: one focuses on native plants, the other on memorials. This means you can also include a cultural focus beyond beach and outdoor activities.

Jerry Bailey Reserve has a pump track for scooters, bikes and skaters. If these activities are part of your plans, the facility offers a specific option for getting active. It differs from the garden and memorials, as well as from a picnic area: scooters, bikes and skateboards are the focus here. Families can consider whether the pump track suits their travel companions’ interests without assuming it’s a general offering for every age group.

Riverside Spots and Boat Ramps

River Road Reserve is on the banks of the Shoalhaven River and has a jetty, playground, barbecue facilities and picnic tables. You can make use of the different facilities depending on your plans for the day: a playground may be useful for a visit with children, while barbecue facilities and picnic tables can suit a planned meal break. As the facilities may change, check before your visit if a particular offering is important to your outing.

At Carters Corner, the local jetty is suitable for fishing with the family. River Road Reserve also has a jetty, as well as a playground, barbecue facilities and picnic tables. You can use these differences when planning: fishing with the family is the main draw at Carters Corner, while River Road Reserve offers several additional facilities.

Shoalhaven Heads has three public boat ramps. However, under current conditions, only two are fully recommended for regular use. Check the current recommendation status before making plans, as ramp conditions may change. Hay Avenue Boat Ramp has a fish-cleaning station and a water tap. River Road Boat Ramp, at the Holiday Haven end, has a floating pontoon for getting on and off boats. When choosing a ramp, consider the facilities you need and check the current recommendation status separately.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Waratah, Wollongong, Umina Beach, Pottsville, La Perouse, Millfield, Dignams Creek, Palmers Island.

For the main travel overview: New South Wales.